Two choose trial by jury

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Two men accused of threatening a woman for drugs and cash, one of them allegedly pointing a shotgun at her head while she was holding a baby, have chosen to be tried by jury.

Raniera Tekooti Reuben, 31, and Tuhaka Takarua, 29 , were called separately during a Crown fixture in Gisborne District Court last week.

They are accused of demanding drugs and cash from a woman after breaking into her McDonald Street house in Gisborne, while armed with weapons, on Saturday, March 18, last year. Police believe the incident was gang-related.

Reuben is said to have been carrying a 12-gauge shotgun, which he allegedly held to the woman’s head, threatening to shoot her, while she was holding a baby. Takarua was allegedly carrying a hockey stick.

Reuben had been previously granted electronically-monitored bail by Gisborne District Court Judge Turitea Bolstad.

Takarua applied to the court for simple bail but Judge Warren Cathcart declined to grant it and remanded him into custody.

Both of the accused’s bail applications were opposed by the Crown.

Each has pleaded not guilty to charges arising from the alleged incident and have elected a jury trial.

Reuben is charged with unlawfully carrying a firearm, burglary with a weapon (the shotgun), and threatening to kill.

Takarua is charged with committing burglary with a weapon.

They are scheduled to appear again in court on September 21.